Staff Software Engineer, Platform Cryptography

Posted Yesterday
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Santa Clara, CA, USA
Hybrid
167K-291K Annually
Senior level
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • HR Tech • Information Technology • Productivity • Software • Automation
We're putting AI to work for people.
The Role
Architect and operate enterprise-scale cryptographic services for a multi-tenant SaaS platform. Responsibilities include key management, PKI, secrets distribution, workload identity, Kubernetes operations, threat modeling, compliance, incident response, and evaluating AI/ML for security applications. The role requires hands-on software engineering, applied cryptography, secure architecture, mentoring, and preparation for post-quantum cryptography.
Summary Generated by Built In
Company Description

It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.

Join us to put AI to work for people.

 

Job Description

Team

Platform Security builds foundational security infrastructure and AI-driven detection systems for enterprise-scale operations. Our mission is to make security proactive, intelligent, and seamlessly integrated into the ServiceNow platform. Cryptography within Platform Security owns the cryptographic backbone of the ServiceNow platform across multiple domains: certificate lifecycle, key management, secrets distribution, and workload identity for a SaaS platform. This is core, regulated-environment security engineering

Role Summary 

As a Staff AI Security & Crypto Engineer, you will architect and deliver enterprise-scale security solutions that integrate cryptographic systems with machine learning, reasoning engines, and real-time inference. You will bring deep expertise in applied cryptography, strong technical leadership, and hands-on machine learning depth — designing and operating intelligent, adaptive security systems for key management, PKI, and secrets infrastructure at SaaS scale.

What you get to do in this role :

  • Design, build, and maintain high-quality, scalable, secure cryptographic services meeting FIPS compliance and regulated-environment requirements
  • Architect and operate mission-critical crypto services  with reliability and security as first-class design constraints
  • Own services end-to-end on Kubernetes in a multi-tenant SaaS environment - deployment, scaling, on-call, incident response
  • Bring a security mindset to every design review: threat model the feature, not just the happy path — this is a deliberate area we're leveling up as a team
  • Evaluate where AI/ML has a legitimate role in the crypto/security space — anomaly detection in key usage, ML-assisted certificate lifecycle risk scoring, AI-assisted code review for cryptographic anti-patterns — and separate that from where it's a distraction
  • Collaborate with product owners, security architects, and platform teams to translate compliance and security requirements into working cryptographic frameworks
  • Mentor engineers on secure coding, cryptographic pitfalls, and design review rigor
  • Stay current on cryptographic advancements, including post-quantum readiness, and bring that forward before it's a compliance deadline

 

Qualifications

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of professional software engineering experience building and operating large-scale, production-grade applications and services.
  • Strong proficiency in Java, Go, Python, Node.js, or other strongly typed programming languages used at production scale.
  • Experience developing modern web applications and platforms using frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue.
  • Strong computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, and distributed systems tradeoffs.
  • Experience designing and implementing APIs and service integrations using REST, GraphQL, and modern backend architectures.
  • Hands-on experience with SQL and NoSQL databases in high-scale, cloud-native environments.
  • Proven experience building and operating services on Kubernetes, including deployments, Helm, CI/CD, observability, and multi-tenant SaaS environments.
  • Experience with public cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
  • Proficiency with modern DevOps and platform engineering practices, including Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, ArgoCD, and infrastructure automation.
  • Experience leveraging AI-powered developer tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Codeium, or similar solutions to improve engineering productivity.
  • Familiarity with integrating and building applications using modern AI and LLM platforms, including OpenAI, Anthropic, or comparable foundation model APIs.
  • Working understanding of core cryptographic primitives, including symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and TLS/PKI fundamentals.
  • Demonstrated security-first engineering habits, including secure coding practices, threat modeling, vulnerability management, and rigorous code review discipline.
  •  

Preferred qualifications

  • Direct experience in cryptography, PKI, key management, or secrets management certificate lifecycle systems, HSM/KMS integration, or crypto-agility work
  • Hands-on AI/ML exposure
  • Experience applying ML techniques to security/ops problems (anomaly detection, risk scoring, log/telemetry analysis) or critically integrating LLM tooling into engineering workflows
  • Experience with regulated environments (FIPS 140-2/3, FedRAMP, common criteria, or similar)
  • Exposure to post-quantum cryptography
  • Track record mentoring engineers and raising the security bar on a team, not just shipping features

 

For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $166,500 - $291,400, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.

Additional Information

Work Personas

We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity,  veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.  

Accommodations

We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact [email protected] for assistance. 

Export Control Regulations

For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities. 

From Fortune. ©2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Skills Required

  • 8+ years of professional software engineering experience building and operating large-scale production applications and services
  • Strong proficiency in Java, Go, Python, Node.js, or other strongly typed production-scale programming languages
  • Experience developing modern web applications and platforms using React, Angular, or Vue
  • Strong computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, and distributed systems
  • Experience designing and implementing APIs and service integrations using REST, GraphQL, and modern backend architectures
  • Hands-on experience with SQL and NoSQL databases in high-scale cloud-native environments
  • Experience building and operating services on Kubernetes, including deployments, Helm, CI/CD, observability, and multi-tenant SaaS environments
  • Experience with public cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and/or GCP
  • Proficiency with Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, ArgoCD, and infrastructure automation
  • Experience leveraging AI-powered developer tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Codeium, or similar solutions
  • Familiarity with modern AI and LLM platforms, including OpenAI, Anthropic, or comparable foundation model APIs
  • Working understanding of symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and TLS/PKI fundamentals
  • Security-first engineering experience, including secure coding, threat modeling, vulnerability management, and rigorous code review
  • Direct experience in cryptography, PKI, key management, secrets management, certificate lifecycle systems, HSM/KMS integration, or crypto-agility
  • Hands-on AI/ML exposure
  • Experience applying ML to security or operations problems, or integrating LLM tooling into engineering workflows
  • Experience with regulated environments such as FIPS 140-2/3, FedRAMP, or Common Criteria
  • Exposure to post-quantum cryptography
  • Track record of mentoring engineers and raising team security standards

What the Team is Saying

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ServiceNow Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as robust, with multiple medical plan options, strong dental/vision, and access to mental-health resources. Feedback suggests the breadth and quality of healthcare offerings are standout aspects of the package.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth — Flexible PTO, paid holidays, company-wide wellbeing days, and paid volunteer time are emphasized. Feedback suggests these options provide meaningful flexibility and support for time away.
  • Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is a notable part of total rewards, including RSUs and an employee stock purchase plan with a purchase discount. Feedback suggests these programs meaningfully enhance total compensation.

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The Company
HQ: Santa Clara, CA
29,000 Employees
Year Founded: 2004

What We Do

As the AI platform for business transformation, we're putting AI to work across organizations — freeing people for work that matters. Making old tech work with new tech. Reaching across departments, from the front office to the back office and every office in between. Our ambition? To become the AI defining enterprise software company of the 21st century (or "AI DESCO21C," as we like to call it). With more than 8,400+ customers, we serve approximately 90% of the Fortune 500®, and we're proud to be a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and World's Most Admired Companies™. Explore your future career with us, visit www.careers.servicenow.com From Fortune. ©2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Why Work With Us

By joining ServiceNow, you are part of an ambitious team of change-makers who have a restless curiosity and a drive for ingenuity. We're committed to helping our people do their best work and live their best lives so we can fulfill our purpose together. At the fastest-growing enterprise software company, you can grow your career faster.

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ServiceNow Offices

Hybrid Workspace

Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.

At ServiceNow, we lead with flexibility and trust. For some, home is the primary workplace. For those who come into a ServiceNow workplace, you are empowered to make team-guided and individual-led decisions on how and when you use the workplace.

Typical time on-site: Flexible
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